Mechanical Engineering 377, Heat Transfer

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Catalog description

Fundamentals of heat transfer by conduction, convection, radiation. Steady and transient heat conduction in solids. Forced and free convection in fluids. proparties of thermal radiation. Radiation heat transfer between solids. Solar radiation.

Prerequisite: ME 241.

Who takes it

Heat transfer is important across a wide range of engineering problems, and this course is sufficiently broad and self-contained to be suitable for students in all engineering curricula; it is required for Mechanical Engineering students. The materials are chosen to provide the student with both a quantitative and an intuitive capability for dealing with heat transfer problems. Examples range from solar collectors and nuclear reactors to microwave cooking and beer can cooling. In addition to analytical solutions, the student is familiarized with the use of finite element methods for numerical solution of thermal problems. Lectures and discussion stress the close relationships between thermal modeling and design decisions. Heat Transfer uses calculus and differential equations, which are prerequisites, and taking a basic fluids course, such as ME 241, prior to Heat Transfer is highly recommended. Heat Transfer is most frequently taken during the junior year.

What it's about

ME 377 provides a fundamental understanding of conduction, convection and radiation heat transfer and its application to engineering problems.

Lectures:

The course meets four days per week for 50- minute lectures.

Topics include:

  • Introduction to the modes of heat transfer in design and analysis
  • Analytical methods for one-dimensional steady-state problems
  • Analytical methods for one-dimensional transient heat transfer
  • Numerical methods for multidimensional steady state and transient problems
  • Heat transfer coefficients for forced and natural convection
  • Radiation heat transfer

Assignments/Evaluation:

There are approximately six problem assignments, including a project using a finite element code, a midterm quiz and a final examination.

Textbook:

F. P. Incropera & D. P. DeWitt, Introduction to Heat Transfer 3rd Ed. Wiley, NY 1996

Contact:

Professor: E. E. Lewis
e-mail: e-lewis@northwestern.edu